The Descendants

madsky wrote:Maybe they just couldn't get the theatre showings, but decided to release it to start a word of mouth campaign.

melbert wrote:Wasn't it stated somewhere, or did I just imagine it in my brilliant brain, that they were going to soft open because of Twilight and Muppets and whatever else that they didn't want to majorly compete with. Then after they all died down a bit, Descendants would go for the hard release.

cindigirl wrote: if he doesn't win for TD then there is definitely something wrong with the academy voting system (and the politics involved).

From the wrap

Indie Box Office: 'Descendants' Gains Momentum, 'Marilyn' Has Sexy Debut

Published: November 27, 2011 @ 2:01 pm

By Joshua L. Weinstein

Adult dramas won enthusiastic audiences over the Thanksgiving weekend, with Alexander Payne's "The Descendants" gaining momentum and a wider audience, taking in $9.2 million at the box office over the five-day holiday.

But that was hardly the only drama to perform well as indie studios introduced their serious films of the awards season.

Michelle Williams' portrayal as America's most iconic actress debuted strongly over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, with the Weinstein Company's "My Week With Marilyn" opening to $2 million at 244 domestic locations.

Weinstein's "The Artist" also enjoyed a big premiere in limited release, taking in $210,414 at four theaters over three days -- a huge per-theater average of more than $52,600 per screen.

The Sony Pictures Classics "A Dangerous Method" had a strong weekend as well, taking in $240,944 at four locations over five days (per screen average of $60,233).

But Fox Searchlight's "The Descendants" dominated the indie box office, grossing $9.2 million from Wednesday through Sunday while expanding from 29 to 433 locations.

Sheila DeLoach, executive VP of distribution for Fox Searchlight, told TheWrap that the studio was encouraged to see the age range for the film expanding.

"The audience has clearly crossed from older adults to an all-audience film for adults over 18," she said, adding that the studio planned to expand into another 200 theaters. "Based on demand, we will be looking to move as many of those theaters as possible up to Friday, Dec. 2," she said.

The movie, by director Alexander Payne, stars George Clooney as a hapless land baron who is selling off family property in Hawaii when his wife is injured in a boating accident. He is left to deal with two hard-to-tame daughters and the knowledge that his wife had taken a lover.

Its per-screen average was $16,628 over the five-day weekend.

"Marilyn," which is generating Oscar buzz for star Michelle Williams, had a solid per-screen average of $7,266 for the three days. The movie is about the interaction between Lawrence Olivier and Monroe during production of "The Prince and the Showgirl."

Its numbers were strong enough to make "Marilyn" the No. 12 movie in the country.

"The way it played throughout the weekend is an indication that word of mouth is building on the film, and that's what we thought, which is why we opened early -- to get people talking," Erik Lomis, the Weinstein Company's head of distribution, told TheWrap.

The R-rated movie, directed by Simon Curtis, opened on 123 screens Wednesday and expanded to 244 screens on Friday.

"We're getting a more sophisticated audience, an older audience and people are responding really well," Lomis said.

cindigirl wrote:I've seen the movie and I wonder why it is rated 'R'. There are no George sex scenes (I know, I would have noticed -
too bad) and the part of the movie referring to his wife's affair but no actual scene like IOM .

From Parade mag

Descendants' Amara Miller Talks George Clooney as a Dad

Amara Miller hit the jackpot when she was cast to play George Clooney’s daughter in The Descendants.

To find a young actress who could handle the humor and heartache of playing the pre-adolescent eccentric Scottie King, director Alexander Payne saw more than 300 girls from around the country. In the end, it was 11-year-old Amara Miller from Pacific Grove, Calif. who won the role.

Miller talked to Parade.com about her big screen debut and what she learned from Clooney.

On playing George Clooney’s onscreen daughter.
“It was amazing. Nothing could ever beat it. George was such a cool person to work with. He really welcomed me. The first day on set, it seemed like I had known him all my life.”

On Clooney as a dad.
“George made a great on-camera dad in the movie. On set, he is quite the prankster and made me feel very comfortable and relaxed since it was my first movie. He did not really give me any advice, but I learned from watching him. Just little things. I think the most important thing I saw was how he treated the people around him.

Her favorite on-set memory.
“Being with everyone was my favorite on-set memory. My tutor Rebecca Davis was fantastic and fun, the producer Jim Burke was like a dad to me, and everyone on set was great. There were only one or two days of filming with other kids, so I was the only kid on set for three months. That could be a bit tough, but everyone took time to have fun with me.”

On her blossoming career.
When the role of Scottie King came to me, I said ‘Why not, that would be fun!’ It was a lot of hard work but very exciting so I am going to continue acting.”

On the actors she looks up to.
“Definitely George! Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Steve Carell are great. Hailey Steinfeld was awesome in True Grit and Charlie Chaplain is hilarious.”

On what she likes to do for fun.
“I love to draw, travel, hang out with friends, cook, and garden. I also love writing scripts and making short films with my friends.”

pattygirl wrote:Oh, blu, you're not alone by any means. I think those who seem to be putting TD and George's performance down, are in a strange head space right now. They've been this way since SK became an issue. Everything is colored by their feelings over that. They never speak of George with anything but animosity. This is their opinion and they are welcome to it. Too bad it really isn't based on the true issue.